of bridgeport



June 24 1924.

Original Filed April 2,

A CLAUD-MANTLE C ABINET LATCH INVENTOR ARTHUR CLAUD- ATTORNEY ll'eiuued June 24, 1924'.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ABTHUB cmun-llmLn, or narnenron'r, comzncncur, assrsuoa To run nsssrcx comm, OI BBIDGEPOR'I CONNECTICUT,

Original Ho. 1437,79: emu December 5,

a coarom'rmn or CONNECTICUT,

cenmn'r LATCH.

1922, Serial I0. 458,158, filed April 2, 1921. Application for reissue flied April 29, 1924. Serial Ho. 709,928.

To a l-whom, it may com-em:

' Be" it known that I; ARTHUR Curm- MANTLE, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding .at the city of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Im-.

provements in Cabinet Latches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrtion of the invention, such as will'enable othersskilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use'the same.

This invention'relates to certain new and laced above or below. the latch also regardless of whether the is to the right or left keeper be re r, an oolof the cabinet of the kee r.

In the rawings:

Figure 1, is a rear elevation of vention', according to the present embodiment thereof;

- Figure 2, is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3, is a section on line 33 of Fi re 1. I

I n proceeding in accordance with the present invention, a hollow casing 1, is employed which preferably has an open back-as shown which may be secured to a door D b screws 2. The latch proper, according to t e present embodiment of the invention, has a nose 3 for engagement with a suitable keeper 4, which nose extends through an opening in a side 10 of the The rear or inner end of the latch m 3 is formed with up er and lower arms 5, the outer sides of w ich are formed with rockated with equal conditions whether the the ining points or terminals 6 that contact with the opposite side wall 11 0f the casing, while t e inner "sides of the arms have lugs 7 which are received within one end of a pair of coilsprings 8. The op osite ends of the coil springs are enga over lugs 9 that are struck out from the side wall 10 .0f the casing. Preferably a guiding tongue 13 is formed on the latch member 3vand extends between the arms and engages in a slot 14 provided therefor in the side wall 11 of the casing.

The latch member is further formed with a preferably struck-out -finger 15 which latter engages in the bifurcated end 16 of the operating member 17. The operating member 17 has a handle 18 which extends through a slot 23 in the side wall 11 of the casing and is pivoted to a screw 19, which latter engages the front wall of the casing 1 and assists in securing the casing to the door.

in which screw 19 is received to allow of vertical movements thereof.

The latch member'has an opening 20 guidingly It will he therefore observed from the foregoin that by moving the handle 18 of the mem er 17 downwardly the bifurcated end 16 of the member 17 will engage the finger 15 and press upwardly ing the upper terminal o r point 6 of the latch mem r to engage side wall- 11 of the casing and rock thereon to thereby move thenose, 3' upwardly out of engagement with the keeper; the action being in the nature of a compound leverage to multipl the power applied to the member 3; It is .obvious that a handle formed integral with the member 3,.as for instance in continuation of either the nose 3' or the ton e 13, could be employed for the purpose 0 rocking the latch member.

Similarly reverse movement of the handle will effect reverse movement of the parts just described, the lower terminal or point in this instance engaging the casin wall 11 so that the latch member rocks at out this lower terminal.

thereon, cause.

' cartonsfwhilethe handles can be instantly moved into and out of the slots 23 in the casing, following withdrawal of the screws 19- and can be shipped iribulk packages. assemble it is merely necessary to insert the handle member into the slot 23 and then insert the screw 19 through the opening 20 and through the opening 24 in the member 17.

Instead of a wood screw 19, any ordinary machine screw may be used, or the member 17 may be pivoted to the casing 'in any suitable manner, and therefore the opening 20 is not necessary unless a long screw similar to that shown is used.

.What is claimed is:

11. In a latch, a casing, a latch member'- thereinhaving upper and lower point-s formed to rockingly engage the casing, spring means exerting pressure on said points for; normall holding the latter engaged with the casing, an operating handle member pivoted to the casing, and a connection between said members whereby the movements of the handle in reverse directions will effect the rocking of the latch member.

2. In a latch, a casing, a latch member therein having two spaced rocking points,

spring means exerting pressure on said points, and a handle member pivoted to the casing, said members being interconnected whereby the rocking of the latch member will effected by the reciprocation of the handle member. v v

'- 3. Ina latch, a structure including a substantially flat casing, a spring tensioned rocking latch member therein formed to engage the casing and rock thereon, ahandle insertible in and removable from the" casu'ng, and means fordetachably pivoting said v handle to a stationary-part.

' 4 In.a latch, a casing, a latch member therein having upper and lower points formed to rockingly engage the casing,

spring means exerting pressure on saidpoints for normally holding thedatter eii-.

gaged with the casing, an operating member having'a handle,'means for pivoting said operating member to the casing, thelatch member having a struck-out finger andthe operating member having a bifurcated end to receive the finger. 1

5. In a latch, a casing, a latch member therein having upper and lower points formed to rockingly engage the casing,

spring means exerting pressure on said points for normally holding the latter engaged with the casing,- an operating member having a handle, and means for pivoting the operating member to the casing, said'meinbers being operatively assembled and the easing having a slot through which a tongue extends from the latching member.

6. In a latch, a casing, a spring teiisioned rocking member therein having two diametrically opposite points formed to engagev the .casing and'rock thereon, a finger borne by the member, an operating member having a b furcated end to receive the finger, and a pivot;for the operating member whereby.

, upon withdrawal of the pivot the operating member may be withdrawn from engagement' with-the casing.

TQIn a latch, a casing, latch means therein including a; nose projecting at one side of said casing and an operating handle pro- 'ecti;ng at another side, spaced upper and lowgepfulcrum means for said latch means be respectively rocked in one orthe other dlrection, and yieldable means adapted to iormally retain said latch means in neutral position with respect to both of said fulcrum means.

8. In a latch, a casing having spaced fulcrum points, latch means having spaced fulcrum portions adapted to lockingly engage said fulcrum points of said casing, and spring means adapted to yieldably retain said fulcrum portions in engagement with said respective fulcrum points whereby said latch means may be rocked in one or the other direction about said respective fulcrum points.

9. In a latch,,a casing having abutment 'moans, latch means mounted in said casing having spaced fulcrum portions engaging said abutment means for independent rocking movement in one or the other direction,

.a'boutwhich said latch means is adapted to ilo and means, adapted to yieldably retain said latch means in neutral position with respect to said abutment means.

' 10. In. a latch, a stationary support, movable latch means, and means pivotally and yieldably mounting said latch means at two spaced points with respect to said support 7 whereby the same may be rocked in one or the other direction from its normal latching position. w i 1]. In alatch, a stationary support. a.

spring tensioned rocking latch member formed to be rocked in one or the other direction from its normal latching position relatively to the support about two spaced points. I

12. In alatch, a stationary support, movable latch means pivotally mounted and formed for movement in one or the other yiel in said medial position.-

ib saa direction from a latehingtfirosition;

to limit e latchtion of said 'atch means, and means abutment means ada ing medial position. 1 I

13. In a latch, a stationary support, movable latch means pivotally' mounted and formed for movement in one or the other direction from a medial latching position, and means yieldably retaining 14. In alatch, a stationary support, "movable latch means pivotally mounted for movement in one or the other direction from a medial latching position, spaced abutment means adapted tolimit thezlatching position of said latch means and eonstitutlng fulcrumsabout which said latch means is adaptbly retaining'said latch means in said a nose projectedffliro said latch means redwbcindependently rockedinoncorihe. it

other dimction, and mmstadayted to yieldably engage said means w thsaid abutment means. 15. In a latch, a slotted walls, latch means therein includ d h the slot of one w an an operat' projected thro the slot ofanot ligr-wall, fulcrum ineans ugh mitting rocking" movement of said latch means in one or the other ,direction from a medial latching position, and means adapted toyieldahly retain said latch means in said" .medial position. r In testimony whereof I aflix my signature hereto, this 25th day of April, 1924.

ARTHUR CLAUD-MANTLE.-

casing having laterally 

